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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#100: Breaking Bread

One of the most intimate things you can do with someone is sit down to eat together. The idea of friends and foes, families and strangers breaking bread has been a recurring theme in art and literature for a very long time. It’s something that can bring us together against the steepest of odds; to quote Oscar Wilde, “after a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations”. But things don’t always end quite so harmoniously — food fights, anyone?

This week, we’re reflecting on the joys (or pains) of eating together or making a meal. Whether the dinner table is a place for communion or conflict for your characters, I look forward to sitting down to a hearty portion of food-themed stories with you. Bon appétit!

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with two characters sitting down for a meal.

Middle School – 264 stories

Write a story where a meal or dinner goes horribly wrong.

Thanksgiving – 201 stories

Write about a group of strangers — or people who know each other, but may as well be strangers — eating together.

Fluff – 152 stories

Write about a character preparing a meal for somebody else.

Fluff – 157 stories

Write a story that involves a secret or magic ingredient.

Halloween – 116 stories

Stories

“SPLATTED CHICKEN” by Jill Campbell

Submitted to Contest #100

Foodies: this one’s for you. “Broasted chicken”, says Wayne. “I have a taste for broasted chicken like That Place.” “That Place? Which place?” “That Place—the 50s diner in Hart. My mouth waters just thinking of it.” Hitting all the recipe sites with the avidness of Einstein, the tenacity of a bulldog, and the dream of a Martha Stewart-worthy dinner, I scanned through AllRecipes.com, Yummy Tummy, and Taste of Home, among others. Who knew there’s a...

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“TLC” by Aoi Kaigara

Submitted to Contest #100

"Why am I here?" I question the elderly stranger with a deep frown."Indeed, why are you here? Why would an elderly stranger like me call out to a young woman like you? And, while we're at the questions, what is your reasoning for showing up? You could have ignored my letter and went on with your life," asks the old man sitting in front of me."It's not like I had anything better to do. I have to find out more about her. There's no other way. You said you had answers, so I came to hear them." At this point, I am willing to do anything to get a...

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“Louis and Sandra ” by Cora Kinn

Submitted to Contest #100

As the autumn sun began to descend a small smile crept across Sandra‘s face. Although her Sunday evening routine wasn’t new, it never failed to give her a sense of purpose or a warm, fuzzy feeling in her tummy. She cheerily called upstairs, “I’m going to make a start now!” then lifted herself out of the cosy armchair and made her way into the heart of the house. This was her favourite room and it was set up just as she wanted it- everything to hand- some might say messy but it made things easy for her. She rummaged through the cr...

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“Moving on is a slice of cake.” by Maria Johnson

Submitted to Contest #100

“You should see the roses darling.” Sue paused trying to think of the right expression, “Well their coming up rosy” she finished with a smile. Rising from her crouching position she grimaced as her knees clicked and her back protested. Still, looking down at the immaculate grave she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. Brian, in life had always been a tidy man, it was only right that she made the weekly trek to ensure his grave was maintained. “Perhaps I will bring a few next week. Not too many mind.” she hastily added, rememberi...

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“The Birthday Dinner” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #100

The clock struck 11:00 and Darlene looked over at her oven. How did she mess that up, she wondered. She was sure she had timed out the turkey so it would be done before the 12:00 dinner, yet the timer said there was 1 hour and 45 minutes left to cook. She checked her rolls and they were raising perfectly. They would be ready to go in on time, but that turkey worried her. In Darlene's world, you don't undercook turkey. Jeremy was turning 18 today. It had been a difficult year, 2020, and Darlene was determined to give her youngest son the be...

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“Abuela” by J.A. Blackmore

Submitted to Contest #100

"Abuela, Abuela!" Carlos called out, running through the chocolate store with a lavender envelope in his hand that bore the royal crest. "What is it, mi nieto?" Abuela asked. "Yeah, Carlos, what is it?" I asked, turning around. He opened the envelope and unfolded a piece of parchment. He cleared his throat and read allowed: "To the Garcia family: Queen Lucia and King Manuel request your presence tomorrow morning at the palace. The royal carriage will arrive at eight in the morning to deliver Senora Garcia and her grandchildren Carlos and Mar...

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“The Problematic Ones” by Duck Lucy

Submitted to Contest #100

“So, uhm…Did you guys know about this tradition?” “Nope.” They all replied. “Great. What do we do?” “Eat?” I looked in front of me at my empty plate, then quizzically looked at the man opposite me. Just as I was about to reply with a sarcastic comeback, we heard shuffling. Silence settled as we listened to what was happening outside the locked door, then a letter was pushed underneath. I snatched it away. “Hey!” The idiot who wanted to eat air complained. “Shut up, let her read it!” Replied the only other woman in our 5-person group, I...

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“The Last Breakfast” by Brien Lau

Submitted to Contest #100

My dead wife appeared in the dream. We started dating in college and got married when we were 24. She appeared in high school uniform,looked young.I had never seen her of that age before.I don't remember the details or what she said in the dream. But it was a dream that can make me feel warm and happy. I woke up in the morning and did my usual stretching exercises. The lumbago has been getting worse recently. If you refuse to give in to old age everywhere, you will be laughed at by your colleagues. I want to get out of my pajamas and...

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“March 13, 2020” by Amy St. Pierre

Submitted to Contest #100

My alarm went off at 6am. I hit snooze and dozed off for a blissful extra nine minutes. When my alarm went off again, I quickly shut it off, trying not to wake my husband, and I rolled groggily out of bed, grabbing my glasses off my bedside table. In the bathroom, I decided to take a hot shower before I got dressed. It was March in New England, which meant that the mornings still held onto the chill of winter for dear life, and days weren’t much warmer, even though by then we were all sick of winter and anxious for the warmth of spring and...

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“Extra Leeks For Good Luck” by Cannelle L

Submitted to Contest #100

I flip through the cookbook, a palette of colors flashing uncoordinatedly before my eyes. It reminds me of our clumsy relationship. With you, things are far from simple, good one moment and downhill the next, especially when it comes to food. I put the hardcover on the counter. (When did everything get so heavy?) The pages mock me as I flip past them. Tortilla muffins and sardine pasta smirk. Pancakes laugh at the loser who can’t cook to save her life. It was not always this way. I used to be a fine cook. But then you came along an...

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“Black Thread” by Ephinia Black

Submitted to Contest #100

I was part of this big beautiful family, "picture perfect", they said. Every word you said, analysed. Every decision you made, analysed. Every book you read, you guessed it, analysed. I hated it! My cousins and their beautiful frame, or my sister being praised for her Albert Einstein level achievements. Nothing I did was good enough for them. It was that time of year when everyone gathered in my grandmother's old dusty house to await their award for the sky-high tasks they've completed. I was the ugly duckling walking in their shadows. No,...

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“When the Shadows come out ” by Mila Van Niekerk

Submitted to Contest #100

Accepting Mica’s dare was a big, big mistake.I realize that now that I’m standing here on top of the flight of crumbling stairs, gawping at the height she wants me to jump. The wind is whipping at my crazy curly red hair, blowing it everywhere and making it hard for me to see. I’m scared the wind will whisk me away along with all the autumn leaves, and I know that instead of floating daintily to the ground, I’d become an ugly human jam on the cement way down below.The old railing of the abandoned Children’s Hospital’s main staircase has long...

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“~The Perfect Wife, The Perfect Meal~” by Lena Martinez

Submitted to Contest #100

My name is Sofia Maria Thomas, I am twenty nine year old and I live in Oakley Hills. I live in a 2 bedroom house with my husband James Enzo Thomas. We have the perfect life here in Oakley Hill and tonight is Jame special anniversary company dinner, it is going to be a night to forget. I was in the kitchen chopping up the carrots and the onions to put in the pan. Some of the guests have already arrived, tonight it was going to be James Boss (Mr.Roger), Kelly (James Boss' wife), Jen, Mark, Rami and Peggy. Peggy entered the kitchen...

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“Kin, Kin, Kin!” by All The World’s A Stage

Submitted to Contest #100

Summer time in western countries was rainy season in Southeast Asia. For the residents of these countries, this meant relief from the intense daily heat, flourishing crops and vegetation, and excusing themselves from driving their motorbikes through the rain whenever possible. But for unexpected and not-so-prepared backpacking travelers, this could prove to be a derailment of plans. And such was the luck for backpackers Darryl and Sabrina Hoshkin. This young, adventurous couple had decided to go completely off the grid, to take in the beauty...

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“Caviar to Lobster! ALL IN ONE!!” by Soumyabrata Chakraborty

Submitted to Contest #100

The Chromium inlaid pod doors opened with a whizz, letting in warm air. Dave felt an excruciating pain as the cryogenic fluid thawed resurrecting him. His chest seemed to collapse as he coughed out the liquid ventilation fluid, letting in fresh air which seemed to pierce his pulmonary tissue. A jolt of electrical impulse rushed through his body, revving up his vitals.His eyes seemed to pop out owing to the great sudden pressure difference, and he felt a sharp pain gradually receding. The light flowing through the small round porthole almost ...

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$50

Prize money

891

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 02, 2021 EST

Won by Rayhan Hidayat 🏆

Title: mie goreng

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

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